In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, technological upgrades can quickly become outdated. And no government or business can afford to think they are too small to be targeted by hackers, as local specialists in the field have preached at PBN’s annual cybersecurity summits in recent years.
Two focus stories in this week’s issue highlight both the speed of changes in technological challenges and how widespread the risks are.
Rhode Island in 2016 added modems to voting machines to help speed counting. But what was seen then as an upgrade is now recognized as a potential security risk because the modems transmit encrypted data over the internet. A task force is expected to make a recommendation to the state next month on whether the modems can safely be used in the 2020 elections.
Nationally, a recent cybertheft of $4.2 million from the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System has every state’s attention. In that case, hackers gained access through a municipal worker’s email account. And locally, New Bedford suffered a municipal computer ransomware attack in July. The city managed to rebuild its server network without paying the hackers.
Coventry, Newport and Pawtucket were also all reportedly hit by hackers this past summer.
Municipalities are especially vulnerable due to limited resources, as are small businesses, nonprofits and other organizations.
On Oct. 11, PBN will hold this year’s cybersecurity summit on business risks at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick. It’s a discussion every Rhode Island company has a growing stake in.